Apparatus and process for condensing soluble gases



' 1,614,313 11 1927' J. F. MONAGHAN APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR CONDENSINGSOLUBLE GASES Filed March 17, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 o B m 5 )nvenTor.

a) Q m dumes F. Monug N m b MM 1,614313 1927' J. F. MONAGHAN APPARATUSAND PROCESS FOR CONDENSING SOLUBLE GASES Filed March 17, 1922 2Sheets-Sheet 9 Fig.2.

lnvenTov. James F Monqghun Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES JAMES F. MONAGHAN, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR CONDENSING SOLUBLE GASES.

Application filed larch 17, 1922. Serial No. 544,473.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus and process forcondensing a soluble gas in a suitable liquid solvent and the principalobject of the invention is to F provide a simple and efficient means fordissolving gas in a liquid to produce a useful commercial roduct.

More specifically, the invention comprises a process and apparatus forproducing sul- 1" phurous or sulphuric acid by dissolving sulphurdioxide in water, and in the produc- -tion of sulphuric acid by theaddition there to of sufficient oxy en to change the sulphurous acidinto sulpiuric acid. It will, how- 1:- ever, be understood that theprocess and apparatus in its broader aspect is not limited to treatmentof sulphur dioxide, but is adapted to the treatment of any gas theproperties of which enable either the process 2" or apparatus to beemployed.

In its broad aspect the process consists in condensing a soluble gas bypassing the gas through a series of columns of a continuously flowingsolvent liquid in a direction counter to the general direction of theflow of the liquid through the series of columns. Preferably, however,the as is passed through one or more of the co umns of liquid in thedirection of the current of the liquid in such column, thus facilitatinthe distribution and effective absorption the gas during its passagethrough the column.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for commerciallymanufacturing sulphurous or sulphuric acid from the sulphur dioxidewhich forms the product of combustion of sulphur burned in a current ofair under pressure.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear fromthe following description and the annexed drawings and will be pointedout in the claims.

A preferred and novel form of apparatus for performing the process abovebriefly described is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. in which.1

Fig. l is an elevation of the apparatus, a portion of the washer beingbroken away, and one of the delivery pipes, which extend into the same,shown artly in section;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the principalportions of the condensers in which the gas is dissolved in :1 suitablesolvent liquid.

The apparatus comprises broadly a lurality of condensing chambersarrange in series having means for continuously passing a solvent liquidthrough said series and for maintaining a column of liquid in each ofsaid chambers, means being provided for passing a current of gas throughthe series in a direction counter to the general directionof the flow ofli uid through the series of condensing chambers, the constructionpreferably being so arranged that the gas will flow through one or moreof the columns of liquid in the condensing chamber in the same directionas that of the current of liquid in said column. The gas may begenerated in any suitable manner and forced through the condensers underpressure by any suitable means.

n the selective embodiment of the invention disclosed herein anapparatus designed for the production and treatment of sulphur dioxideto produce sulphurous or sulphuric acid is illustrated. It will beunderstood that this apparatus may be used for the treatment of otherchemicals and that so far as the production of the gas, and the meansfor delivering the same under pressure to the condensers, is concernedany suitable apparatus may be employed.

In the present illustration the condensers are shown as beingsuperimposed for convenience in construction and economy in space, butit will be understood that the condensers may, if desired, be made searately and connected together by suita le conduits to perform thefunction in a suitable manner, which will be obvious to those skilled inthe art, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The particular embodiment of the invention illustrated herein comprisesa furnace 1 havin a hopper 2 to which the material, from w ich the gasto be produced, may be introduced. The ho per 2 desirably is providedwith a. butter y valve 3 operable by a handle 4 to dump the contents ofthe hop er into the furnace. A cover 5 is provi ed which may be removedto permit the introduction of the material, such as sulphur or ironpyrites, into the hopper when the butterfly valve is closed. Air issupplied to the furnace by a fan blower 6, the outlet conduit 7 ofwhichleads directly into the furnace. The sulphur dioxide which is producedby the combustion of the sulphur contents of the material introducedinto the furnace, together with the unconsu ingredients of the air whichis introdued exact amount of oxygen required to produce Cal the desiredgaseous roduct and to preventthe production of un esirable products. Forexample, in the production of sulphurous acid the proper amount ofoxygen may be provided to produce sulphur dioxide and the production ofsulphur trioxide avoided and thereby preventing the production ofsulphuric acid. By opening the valve 9, or by shutting off the supply ofair through the blower, the combustion in the furnace may be partiallyor wholly arrested. In the normal operation of the device the valve 9,however, remains closed and the gases from the furnace pass through a pie 10 and a tee 11 into a pair of prefera ly parallel pipes 12, one ofwhich is shown, into the lower portion of a washer 13. The pipes 12enter the washer well beneath the surface of the liquid therein and thegas is delivered through suitable perforations 14 in the ipes and passesupwardly therefrom throng the liquid into the upper portion or dome ofthe washer. Any sublimed sulphur, or other solid material, which passesover with the gas is thus washed out of the gas. Of course, a certainamount of the gas ma at first be absorbed by the liquid in the was er,but the solution will soon become saturated and thereafter the washedgas will be delivered without further absorption.

The washer is in the form of a closed chamber having a delivery pipe 15which leads through suitable tees and connections to an inlet pipe 16which delivers the gas to the condensers. The preferred forms ofcondensers which are illustrated herein comprise a plurality ofpreferably cylindrical chambers 17 and 18, the upper condenser 18 beingsuperimposed upon the condenser 17, These condensers may, however, bemade separately and connected in the manner hereinafter described.lVhile two condensers are illustrated it will be obvious that a greaternumber of condensers may thus be arranged in series and the gas passedprogressively through said series of condensers, in a manner which willhereinafter be more fully described.

The solvent li uid for the gas, which in the treatment'o sulphur dioxidefor the purpose of producing sulphurous or sulphuric acid is water,- issupplied through an lnlet pipe 19 which communicates with the uppercondenser 18 at or adjacentthe bottom thereof, it being understood thatthe upper condenser is the last of the Series of condensers throughwhich the gas is forced. The liquid is discharged from the upper or lastcondenser through a port 20 which is located at a considerable distanceabove the bottom of the condensing chamber, so that a column of liquid21 is constantly maintained in the condensing chamber as the liquid issupplied continuously thereto.

A conduit 22 leads from the port 20 of the upper or last condensingchamber to an inlet port 23 of the condenser 17 upon which the condenser18 is superimposed, or if the condensers are not arranged insuperimposed position, to the next preceding condenser of the seriesthrough which the gas is passed.

The outlet 2-1 for the condenser 17 is located at a distance above thebottom of the condenser and the liquid desirably is dischargedtherethrough into a trap 25 of an outlet pipe 26, the up er bend 27 ofwhich desirably is substantia ly at the normal level at which the liquidis maintained in the upper condenser. The pipe 26 may be provided with afitting 28 to which a hose or other suitable connection may be attachedforconveying away the solution.

The upper bend 27 of the pipe 26 desirably is provided with an upwardlyextending tube 29 having a cap 30, this upwardly extending tube and capbeing provided in order that the cap may be removed to prevent syphouicaction of the discharging liquid from the condensers when desired. a

By reason of this construction a column of liquid is maintained in eachof the condensing chambers and the liquid which 15 discharged from theupper portion of an upper condensing chamber enters the next lowercondensing chamber and finally is discharged from the lowermost chamberor first of the series of chambers. Consequently, the flow of liquidthrough the series of condensing chambers is in the reverse direction tothe current of gas which is passed through said chamber. The flow ofliquid, however, in each of the columns is in the same direction as theflow of the gas as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The inlet pipe 16 for the gas desirably extends centrally upwardly intothe lower condensing chamber 17 a considerable distance and is enclosedby a tubular member 31' having a closed upper end 32 located above thelevel of the liquid in said chamber and an enlarged base portion 33which rests upon the bottom of the condensing chamber 17. This enlargedportion provides a preferably annular chamber 34 the upper wall 35 ofwhich preferably is flat and extends laterally from the body of thetubular member 31. This horizontal wall 35 is provided with a series ofpreferably uniformly disposed aperture: through which the gas is fo cedinto the lower end of the column of ill -'- perforations 40 t liquid inthe lower condensing chamber. It will be noted that the direction inwhich the gas passes through this column of The gas WlllCll passesthrough the liquid' in this condenser escapes into a pipe 36 whichextends well up into the super1mpo:ed condensing chamber 18. The pipe 36is enclosed in a tubular member 37 like the tubular member 31. Thistubular member is provided with a closed upper end 38 located above thelevel of-the liquid in said chamber and with an enlarged base 39, theupper wall of which is rovided with a series of iirough which the gas isdischarged into the lower portion of the column of liquid 21 in theupper condensing chamber. The gas which escapes from the liquid in thisupper condensing chamber passes through an outlet pipe or stack 41 tothe atmosphere.

It will be noted that, by reason of the fact that the upper ends of thetubular members 31 and 38 extend above the outlets 24 and of therespective chambers,

the liquid is prevented from escaping from said chambers if theoperation of the device is stopped and that the volume of liquid in apartial state of completion is retained in each chamber, so that uponagain starting the apparatus an immediate delivery of acid is resumed.

While but two condensers, arranged in series, are shown in theillustrative embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, it will beunderstood that a series may comprise any desirable number of condensersarranged in superimposed relation or otherwise.

By reason of the fact that the gas is introduced under pressure at ornear the bottom of the column of li uid solvent in the respectivecondensers an passed upwardly through said column in the direction ofthe flow of the water in said column, the density of the body of liquidwill become rarefied by the progressive expansion of the rising gasbubbles in direct proportion to the increase of distance from the bottomof the column until the normal level of the solution is reached, wherethe gas emer ing from the liquid will produce such an a itation of theliquid that the latter will be lown into the form of a spray or vaporwhich practically fills the end portion of the condenser chamber abovethe normal level of the liquid. This spray or va r of the solvent liquidthus produced rapidly absorbs the gas which emerges from the liquidcolumn.

It will be noted that the solvent liquid flows by gravity through theseries of condensers so that by suitably controlling the rate of supplyit may be caused to remain in the condensers a suflicient time to enableit properly to absorb the gas. By properly regulating the rate of flowof the liquid in relation to the flow of gas under pressure practicallyany desired strength of resulting solution may be obtained.

In order to insure a more complete reclamation of the soluble gas whichit is desired to recover from the gases which pass throu h thecondensers a spray of the liquid may e projected into the gas as itrises from the surfaceof the column or columns of liquid in thecondensers. As illustrated herein an annular perforated pipe 42 islocated in the upper portion of the upper condenser and is supplied withliquid from an inlet pipe 43. A branch 44 of said inlet p pe may also beprovided to deliver the liq- 111d to a similar perforated pipe 45located in the upper portion of the lower condensmg chamber 17 i In theoperation of the device when employed for the production of 'sulphurousacid, the sulphur dioxide is generated in the furnace as above describedand is passed under pressure through the pipe 16 into the tubular member31 from which it is delivered through the apertures in the enlarged baseportion into the lower portion of the column of water in the lowercondenser. The greater part of the sulphur dioxide is thus absorbed inthis condenser. That which passes through the column of water in thelower condenser is conducted through the pipe 36 and tubular member asto the chamber 39 in the base of said tubular member from which itescapes through the apertures into the lower portion of the column ofwater in the upper condenser, and passing through this column of wateris practically entirely absorbed for the reason that the water which iscontained in the upper condenser is practically free of gas and,therefore, ca able of more rapidly absorbing the sulp ur dioxide.

As the gas passes from the upper condenser to the air the pressure uponthe sur face of the column of liquid 21 in the upper condenser is thenormal atmospheric pressure. The pressure upon the column or columns ofwater in the lower condenser or condensers, however, will be in excessof atmospheric pressure corresponding to the height of the water columnabove the surface of the column in any of these condensers.

By correlating the flow of gas and solvent Ill liquidthrough thecondensers the strength of the solution delivered from the apparatus maybe duly regulated so that a solution may be delivere from the apparatussuitable for employment in bleaching and other commercial uses. Byreason of the fact that all the sublimed sulphur, and other foreignmaterial, has been eliminated from the gas by the washer staining of thegoods which are to be bleached and other injurious effects upon theproduct to be treated are avoided.

Should any of the gas escape from the surface of the upper condenser itis treated with a spray from the pipe 42 so that practically all of thesulphur dioxide is extracted before the remaining gases escape from thestack 41. The spray of water which is introduced through the pipe 45 inthe lower condenser likewise aids in more thoroughly absorbing the gaswhich is to be recovered, but the introduction of water or other liquidin this lower condenser necessarily weakens the solution which isdelivered from thecondensers and consequently may be omitted if desired.

Where it is desired to produce sulphuric acid instead of sulphurous acidan oxidizing agent may be introduced into the sulphur dioxide gas beforeit enters the lowermost condenser or first of the series. This may beaccomplished by introducing an oxidizing agent, such as, oxygen, ornitrous oxide, into the pipe 16 at any convenient point as through apipe 46 which leads from a suitable generator to the pipe 16.

When an additional oxidizing agent is thus introduced the sulphurdioxide is transformed into the sulphuric radical and being dissolved inthe water produces sulphuric acid.

It has been mentioned that the present apparatus and process may beemployed for the treatment of other gases. As a specific instance it maybe mentioned that bisulphite of soda (NRHSO3) may be roduced in asimilar manner by passing su phur dioxide gas 80,) through a solution ofsodi um carbonate (NaCO,) in the manner above described. Similarly otherproducts may be treated by the same process and apparatus by forcing theselected gas through a suitable solvent. It will, therefore, beunderstood that the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is ofan illustrative character and is not restrictive and that variousmodifications may be made in construction and arrangement of the partsand details of the apparatus and of the order of treatment of the gaswithin the spirit and scope of the following claims.

- Having thus described myinvention, what I claim asnew, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An apparatus for condensing a soluble the column of gas comprising aseries of condensing chambers each providing a reservoir for a column ofsuitable solvent liquid, means for producingv a current of liquidthrough said series including means for introducing the liquid into therespective chambers at or adjacent to the bottom thereof, means formaintaining a constantlevel of liquid in each chamber, means for forcingthe gas progressively through the columns of liquid in said chambersunder a, pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and means in one ormore of said chambers for projecting a spray of liquid upon the gaswhich rises through the co umn of liquid in such chamber or chambers.

2. An apparatus for condensing a soluble gas'comprising a plurality ofsuperimposed condensing chambers arranged in series including means forsupplying a continuous current of suitable solvent liquid to theuppermost chamber at or adjacent the bottom thereof, a conduitcommunicating with the superimposed chamber at the maximum level of theliquid, said conduit also communicating with the next lower condensingchamber of the series at or near the bottom thereof, means fordelivering the liquid from the lowermost condensing chamber at themaximum level of the liquid therein, means for forcing the gas into thecolumn of liquid in the lowermost chamber at or adjacent the bottomthereof, including a conduit for said gas having a member extendingabove the maximum level of the liquid in said chamber, means forprogressively delivering the gas which rises through liquid in a lowercondensing chamber into the column of liquid in the next superimposedchamber adjacent the bottom thereof including a conduit for said gashaving a' member extending above the maximum level of the liquid in saidchamber, and means in the upper portion of one or more of saidcondensing chambers for delivering a spray of the liquid into the gasrising through the column of liquid in said chamber.

3. An acid generator comprisin means for generating sulphur dioxide uner pressure, a washer, means for progressively passing said sulphurdioxide under pressure through said washer, a plurality of condensers,arranged in series, communicating with said washer, means for passing acurrent of water progressively through said condensers and formaintaining a colunin of water in each condenser, whereby the gasproduced by said generator will be forced progressively through thecolumns of waterun said 1 condensers under the pressure of saidgenerator in a direction counter to the general direction of the passageof water through said series and through the columns of water in said,condensers in the direction of the flow of the Water in the respectivecondensers. 4. An acid generator comprising means for generating sulphurdioxide, a plurality of condensers, arranged in series, connected tosaid generator, means for passing a cur. rent of water progressivelythrou 11 said condensers and for maintaining a co umn of water at, asubstantiall constant level in for forcing the gas produced by saidgeneratonprogressively through the columns of water in'said condensersin a direction counter to the general direction of the passage of waterthrough said series and means for deliver- 1 ing a spray of water in oneof said condensers in a direction opposite to the'flow of gas risingfrom the water in said condenser.

5. An apparatus for producing sulphurous acid comprising a closedfurnace, means for supplying a sulphurous composition to said furnace,means for supplying said furnace with air under pressure, awater-containing condenser, and means for conducting the sulphur dioxideproduced in said furnace under the pressure in the furnace into theliquid in said condenser comprising a conduit extending through theliquid in said condenser and arranged to discharge said sulphur dioxideinto the water in roximity to the bottom of the condenser w ereby thewater of the condenser will act as a cooling a cut to reduce thetemperature of said sulp ur dioxide.

6. An ap gas comprising a condenser having a chamher for a liquid, aninlet, an outlet for said liquid determining the-maximum level of theliquid in said chamber, means for introducing the soluble gas into saidliquid includ ing apipe extending upwardly through the bottom of saidchamber substantially to the maximum level of the liquid .and adistributing member enclosin said pipe and resting on the bottom of saicondenser having means for delivering the gas into theliquid in closeproximity to the bottom of sald chamber and substantially uniformly'therethrough.

from a column of the liquid.

paratus for condensing a soluble presence of air supplied to saidfurnace under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, washing theproducts of combustion while under said ressure and causing the purifiedsulphur said pressure producedby the air pressure in the furnace througha continuously flowing column of water in the same direction as thedirection of flow of the water in said column.

8. The process of condensing a soluble gas which consists in passing thegas under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure through a seriesof columns of a. continuously moving solvent 1i uid in a directioncounter to the general flow of such li uid through said series ofcolumns and su jecting the gas to a spray of the solvent liquid upon itsemergence an acid which 9. The process of producing ioxide throughconsists in passing sulphur a Washer and then progressivel condenser comrising a series of continuously counter to the general direction of theflow of said Water through said series and adding an oxidizing agent tosaid sulphur dioxide after it leaves the enters the water.

10. The process of condensing a'soluble gas which consists in passingthrough an ascending column of liquid, soluble gas-flowing in the samedirection as the solvent under sufiicient pressure to cause the body ofthe liquid to be progressively rarefied by the columns of expansion ofthe bubbles of gas ascending with the liquid and the surface of theliquid to be blown into a spraycapable of more effectively absorbing theundissolved gas. which passes through the column of the solvent.

In testimony whereof, I have name to this specification.

JAMES F. MONAGHAN.

signed my ioxide to pass under thethrough a irection of the owing waterin a, direction condenser and before it ing a conduit extending throughthe flow of the Water in the respective condensers.

4. An acid generator comprising means for generating sulphur dioxide, aplurality of condensers, arranged in series, connected to saidgenerator, means for passing a current of water progressively throughsaid condensers and for maintaining a column of water at a substantiallyconstant level in each condenser, means for forcing the gas produced bysaid generator progressively through the columns of Water in saidcondensers in a direction counter to the general direction of thepassage of water through said series and means for delivering a spray ofwater in one of said condensers in a direction opposite to the flow ofgas rising from the water in said condenser.

5. An apparatus for producing sulphurous acid comprising a closedfurnace, means for supplying a sulphurous composition to said furnace,means for supplying said furnace with air under pressure, awater-containing condenser, and means for conducting the sulphur dioxideproduced in said furnace under the pressure in the furnace into theliquid in said condenser comprisliquid in said condenser and arranged todischarge said sulphur dioxide into the water in proximity to the bottomof the condenser whereby the water of the condenser will act as acooling agent to reduce the temperature of said sulphur dioxide.

6. An apparatus for condensing a soluble gas comprising a condenserhaving a chamber for a liquid, an inlet, an outlet for said liquiddetermining the maximum level of the liquid in said chamber, means forintroducing the soluble gas into said liquid including a pipe extendingupwardly through the bottom of said chamber substantially to the maximumlevel of the liquid .and a distributing member enclosing said pipe andresting on the bottom of said condenser having means for delivering thegas into the liquid in close proximity to the bottom of said chamber andsubstantially uniformly therethrough.

7. The process of producing refined sulphurous acid which consists inburning a sulphurous composition in a furnace in the presence of airsupplied to said furnace under pressure greater than atmosphericpressure, washing the products of combustion while under said pressureand causing the purified sulphur dioxide to pass under the said pressureproduced by the air pressure in the furnace through a continuouslyfiowing column of water in the same direction as the direction of flowof the water in said column.

8. The process of condensing a soluble gas which consists in passing thegas under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure through a seriesof columns of a continuously moving solvent liquid in a directioncounter to the general direction of the flow of such liquid through saidseries of columns and subjecting the gas to a spray of the solventliquid upon its emergence from a column of the liquid.

9. The process of producing an acid which consists in passing sulphurdioxide through a Washer and then progressively through a condensercomprising a series of columns of continuously flowing water in adirection counter to the general direction of the flow of said Waterthrough said series and adding an oxidizing agent to said sulphurdioxide after it leaves the condenser and before it enters the water.

10. The process of condensing a soluble gas which consists in passingthrough an ascending column of liquid, soluble gasflowing in the samedirection as the solvent under sufficient pressure to cause the body ofthe liquid to be progressively rarefied by the expansion of the bubblesof gas ascending with the liquid and the surface of the liquid to beblown into a spray capable of more effectively absorbing the undissolvedgas which passes through the column of the solvent.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JAMES F. MONAGHAN.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION;

latent No. 1, 614, 313,

granted January 11, 1927.

to JAMES F. MONAGHAN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in correction as follows: Page4, line 76 and 77,

above mentioned patent requiring the printed specification of the claim1, strike out the words "under a pressure greater than atmosphericpressare"; and that the said" Letters in that the same may conform toSigned and sealed this 22nd day Seal.

Patent should he read with this correction therethe record of the casein the Patent of February, A. D. 1927.

Office.

M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,614,3i3, granted January 11, 1927.

to JAMES F. MONAGHAN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above mentioned patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4,line 76 and 77. claim 1, strike out the words "under a pressure greaterthan atmospheric pressure"; and that the said' Letters Patent should beread with this correction therein that the same may conform to therecord of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of February, A. D. 1927.

M. J. Moore, Seal. Acting Commissioner of Patents.

